The White Stripes “Merry Christmas from…the White Stripes” 2002. Third Man Records/XL Recordings. The White Stripes recorded Side A’s “Candy Cane Children” in 1998 and it appeared on the Flying Bomb Records label’s Surprise Package Volume 2 along with Rocket 455 (“Santa Ain’t Coming for Christmas”) and The Blowtops (“Sidewalk Santa”). It’s classic early White Stripes: lo-fi, sparsely recorded bluesy garage punk and, later, die-hard fans would call themselves Candy Cane Children. Side B is simply adorable; Jack White reads “The Story of the Magi” from the Gospel of Matthew. Meg White sings a rather shaky a cappella version of “Silent Night,” adorably forgetting the lyrics, giggling a bit as Jack prompts her with “ron yon virgin” (which is incorrect – it’s “round yon virgin” – and she notes this to him at the end of the song).

Why don’t you open me up?

Candy Cane Girl
Don’t you know your name, girl?
Twelve people gonna ask you just the same, girl
What a world
Christmas once again, girl
That’s three hundred and sixty four tears, girl

So when Christmas finally comes
And nobody’s got a gun
And you think it might be fun
To hang around
Think again girl

Why don’t you open me up, huh?

Candy Cane Boy
Don’t you know your name, boy?
Nine people gonna tell you just the same, boy
You’re alone, son
In the middle of a million
And nobody knows how to talk to children

Oh, when Christmas finally comes
And nobody’s got a gun
And you think it might be fun
To get a new toy
Think again boy

Oh, when Christmas finally comes
And no one’s got a gun
And you think it might be fun
To make a stand
Think again man